Boatyard
Washington Street Extension
Deeley Family
1950s to 1968
In 1917, Henry and Florence Lang purchased South Wharf from W. T. Swain, along with waterfront land on Washington Street Extension (known as “South Beach”); it was cluttered with old fishing shanties, boathouses, and candle factories in various states of disrepair. The Langs founded Island Service Company, and, over the years, they and their descendants ran many businesses from the boatyard, including boat repair, kerosene delivery, and ice transport. The boatyard had several changes of ownership over time, leaving and returning to the Deeleys. The family operated Island Marine Company beginning in the 1950s. Allan Mills took it over from the Deeleys and Prentice “Prenny” Claflin ran it as Nantucket Shipyard beginning in 1977. In the late 1990s it became Michael Allen’s Grey Lady Marine. The signs in this exhibition hung for many years in the family boatyard.
Florence Clifford remembers
launching the Island Service Company’s first boat, Isco, christening
it with a bottle of ginger ale.
NHA
Home | NHA Digital Exhibitions
Exhibition Home | Acknowledgments
| Gallery Images | Opening
Event Images | Index of Businesses
Previous
Sign | Thumbnails | Next
Sign
Boatyard
Washington Street Extension
Deeley Family
1950s to 1968
In 1917, Henry and Florence Lang purchased South Wharf from W. T. Swain, along with waterfront land on Washington Street Extension (known as “South Beach”); it was cluttered with old fishing shanties, boathouses, and candle factories in various states of disrepair. The Langs founded Island Service Company, and, over the years, they and their descendants ran many businesses from the boatyard, including boat repair, kerosene delivery, and ice transport. The boatyard had several changes of ownership over time, leaving and returning to the Deeleys. The family operated Island Marine Company beginning in the 1950s. Allan Mills took it over from the Deeleys and Prentice “Prenny” Claflin ran it as Nantucket Shipyard beginning in 1977. In the late 1990s it became Michael Allen’s Grey Lady Marine. The signs in this exhibition hung for many years in the family boatyard.
Florence Clifford
remembers launching the Island Service Company’s first boat, Isco,
christening it with a bottle of ginger ale.